My Favorite Things: Mates of State

This week: Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, the husband-wife team behind indie-pop band Mates of State. The couple will release their seventh full-length album, Mountaintops, on September 13, then hit road for a 19-date tour.

FAVORITE SONG: “‘Crazy Love’ by Van Morrison. This song has the chord progression that we believe are present in many of the greatest songs. It just immediately pulls on your heart.”

FAVORITE ALBUM: “Rumours Fleetwood Mac is the one record we can always come back to. Obvious classic.”

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST: “We saw tUnE-yArDs play one of the best shows we’ve seen in a long time. We were hooked just listening to the record. We both left the show totally inspired and as huge fans. The singer Merrill Garbus is for real.”

FAVORITE WAY TO PASS TIME ON THE ROAD: “At night we eat bad food, listen to music or read, and during the day we go exploring. Last summer our tour coincided with the World Cup tournament so we would watch soccer and then find a field in town and play with whomever wanted to join in.”

FAVORITE PLACE TO ESCAPE: “Running on a trail through the forest. We’re the only ones down at the trail who run in gigantic headphones.”

FAVORITE PICK-UP LINE: “The only time I can even remember a pick up line was when Jason said he was in love with my voice. I flatter easily I guess.”

FAVORITE LIE: “No.’ It’s easy and can be argued.”

FAVORITE RECORD STORE: “We bought most of the records we own from the Love Garden in Lawrence, KS, and Amoeba Records in San Francisco.”

FAVORITE TV SHOW: “We are into Breaking Bad. We watch ten minutes every night before we pass out. Also we’re huge Friday Night Lights fans. Jason thinks I like the football players but I’m really into Coach Taylor.”

FAVORITE CELEBRITY: “Celebrity is false. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSICAL GEAR: Kori: “I have a love/hate relationship with my Yamaha electone organ. It’s not an easy piece of equipment to haul around, but the more I use modern synths the more I realize that my brain is wired for analog. Now I understand what all my music nerd friends have been telling me for so long — you can’t replicate the sound from an old analog organ.”